Prison Pumpkins: Inmates, Teachers, & Latter-day Saints Team Up to Bring Smiles to Students with Special Needs

MR says: It's a rare occasion when inmates at the Utah State Prison, Latter-day Saints, and Halloween all come together. But when they all do, the results are heartwarming and simply incredible!

Every year, inmates at the Utah State Prison participate in a program called the Green Thumb, where they plant seeds and grow pumpkins. Nearly three dozen participated in the program this year when these festive vegetables were donated to the Kauri Sue Hamilton School for students with severe disabilities. Teachers and faculty, some of whom are LDS, helped the students pick out a pumpkin of their own, bringing beautiful smiles to their faces. See more touching photos here.

Courtney Titus helps Lynnette Lee pick out a pumpkin grown by inmates at the Utah State Prison at the Kauri Sue Hamilton School in Riverton Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)

Kaelyn Bonner sits on a pile of pumpkins grown by inmates at the Utah State Prison at the Kauri Sue Hamilton School in Riverton Thursday, Oct. 22, 2015. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)